Help For New Pagans

[Lilu]

This is an quick basic essay that I found of interest. It has some good advice that I think all people new to paganism could do with. I am reprinting the essay in full here, but you can read find it here: http://astarbreeze.tripod.com/newp.html

***
Alot of people are under the misconception that in order to practice a pagan religion, they must find a teacher. This is not true. You are just as capable of educating yourself as anyone. Pagan books and websites can supply you with all the information you need to begin practicing. I do not think it is a good idea to rely on any one single book or website. It is best to get information from a variety of sources.

You will notice that many of the sources sometimes contradict each other. This is because they are written by people and different people have different opinions. It doesn’t mean that one is right and one is wrong, but that each person is doing what’s right for them.

If you come across conflicting information, and it confuses you, you should choose whatever sounds the most logical to you. There’s a good chance you will come up with your own unique way of doing things eventually. I would suggest that you not do anything you strongly disagree with as any negative thoughts you have about what you are doing will more than likely cancel out what you wish to accomplish.

A word of caution about getting information off the net: ANYONE can get a website and put anything they want on it, so do not rely entirely on websites. It’s true that anyone can write a book, but the publishers generally go to some trouble to ensure that the information is accurate in the interest of credibility, so books do tend to be more reliable sources of information than the Internet.

Many people think that they must join a coven or group in order to study Wicca or paganism. There are even people that will tell you that in order to be "authentic" you must be taught by another witch/pagan and/or belong to a coven. This is not true. There is nothing wrong with being solitary. In fact there are some advantages. You do not have to be involved with the politics of organized religion. If your path changes with spiritual growth, you do not need to look for another group if you are solitary. Of course there are also some advantages to being part of a coven. But you should never join a coven simply to be "authentic" or whatever. You do not need to prove your religion to anyone, what matters is that you are sincere in your beliefs and practice and happy with yourself. I do not teach, as I am not a patient person, but if you have a question, please feel free to email me and I will see if I can help or least direct you to someone that can.

If you do decide you absolutely must have a teacher, please be cautious about who you choose. Choose someone reputable and get some references. There are alot of people put there who will fill your head with nonsense just for their own amusement, or perhaps “teaching” something they know nothing about makes them feel important. This is why I think it is best to at least read a few books before you attempt to find a teacher, so you at least have a basic idea of what you plan to study.

There are also a good many people that will try to convince you that their way is the only way and that you must do everything exactly as they say, even if it makes you uncomfortable or you violently disagree with it. I personally would not even bother with someone like that, either as a friend or a teacher.

Bear in mind, even when you find a good teacher, you are going to have to make some effort yourself. Regardless of what any individual teaches you, you should still study on your own, practice on your own and above all, THINK on your own. If you are not capable of thinking for yourself, I don’t think that paganism is really the religion for you, but that’s just my opinion.
***

BB
Lilu

[Sukie]

Hi, I'm new in this website just as I'm a beginner. I seen a couple of websites and well right now I'm reading ¨True Magick¨by Amber K and well I'm really interested in buying more books, but I'm a solitary practitioner...
I've done some researched and well I would like to know if there are any books you would recomend me... to start of...
Thanks,
Sukie

[Myst]

Go look in the Books forum, Sukie. There's a thread there for good books for newbies :)

[Dria El]

Originally posted by Sukie
Hi, I'm new in this website just as I'm a beginner. I seen a couple of websites and well right now I'm reading ¨True Magick¨by Amber K and well I'm really interested in buying more books, but I'm a solitary practitioner...
I've done some researched and well I would like to know if there are any books you would recomend me... to start of...
Thanks,
Sukie

Welcome to Mystic Wicks Sukie!!! So glad you decided to join us!

:)

[Shadowulfe]

Welcome to MW!!!

[Keron]

Welcome, Sukie-- Blessed be and merry meet!

[bansidhe]

cead maile failte sukie - a hundred thousand welcomes!
i know im late, i usually am! :) its the thought that counts.
and thats really good advice lilu, imo anyway, and i agree wholeheartedly, even tho ive only been fully studying druidism for about two years, the things that you discussed havent let be down once! someone once said that scepticism id a healthy quality for a druid, but i reckon its good for everyone!
take care and brightest blessings,
bans. :bubbles:

[Tarot Collector]

So, it is. Wheres Mol? I haven't heard my welcome back from him yet.

[arien]

I've been looking for such bonding (as i see from this message board,that is) for a long time...

Where have you guys been ....

[ruadh]

I thought this was a concise and well written article. Thanks for posting it. Too often I have read books that make it seem like one has to have a teacher and coven, that one has to do things this way or that way and that really gets to me. I left that kind of thinking behind when I left the Catholic church! I have met someone who has more or less become a guide to me, but she was my friend first. She has often argued with other pagans about blind dogmatic thinking in the community. Perhaps it is because so many pagans were raised Christian or Jewish, they are still trying to break out of the "brainwashing" they went through growing up and the whole "do it this way" is so much a part of them (and I should say "us" because I include myself here) that it is safe territory.
I just tend to get annoyed when I read a book and it says I should do something but it never gives me a real reason why. If I am going to call the quarters in a prescribed way, cleanse something because "that is how it is done" then you can bet I want a plausible reason why or I don't do it. That is why I like being more or less solitary. I am too outspoken to just "go along" with a group without knowing why I am doing something. I also have had some negative experiences with the local pagan community because of the whole ego vibe I got. I don't do egos either!

[Dria El]

Originally posted by arien
I've been looking for such bonding (as i see from this message board,that is) for a long time...

Where have you guys been ....

We've been right here! :D

And...

Welcome to Mystic Wicks arien!!! So glad you decided to join us!

:)

[Eudaimonia]

A good newbie book (I think) is "The Complete Book of Witchcraft" by Raymond Buckland. Helped me out plenty when I was starting - it really is worth the $16.95 plus tax!

[MUNKEe-Zer0]

I just kinda stumbled onto this board, but from what I've seen, I think I'll definately be coming back here everyday until I lose interest :-D

I've been studying since May '01, but not much, so I'm still kind of a newbie. So far, all I really know is a few terms, the basic principles of a Witch, and a little simple candle magick.

Anywho, I could use a few newbie tips. Thanks! :-)

[Witchy Cowgirl]

You'll find plenty-a-tips here....all ya gotta do is a little searching. There are lots of threads already started that will answer questions you may have.;)
Welcome!

[blindsight]

Say, i am sort of a newbie and i was wondering where i could find out more about the athame, im sorry but ull have to 4give me but im not to good w/ msg brds

[Witchy Cowgirl]

Welcome Blindsight!:)
You say your not good with message boards so I'm gonna try to help you out. (Notice I said try, cause what I know is through trial and error - there's lots of folks here who can help).
1st, click on the search button (under the MW heading)
2nd, put your cursor in the blanK section above basic query and type in what your searching (in this case - athame)
3rd, scroll down a bit and hit the perform search button. MW's search engine will search the board for any post concerning that subject.
HAPPY HUNTING :D

[Lauralu]

I just checked out this thread and it seems like a great place for newbies, myself included. I'm really not computer literate and forums tend to confuse me so I hope I can navigate myself around. I've been studying paganism for about 7 months or so and I really think this is the path for me. I was wondereing if anyone had any suggestions on how I could initiate myself, as I only have know one person who practices wicca. i live out in the boonies of southern Ohio where people like me are considered to be sinners and such. I love the support youse guys radiate!! Even if just over my computer.

[krisgurl]

thank you i am looking up some books to read at this book story down town from where i live and looking up some websites.......i am such a blond because i just fugered out how to reply thank you i will keep what you said in ,mind
krystle

[Draeconin]

Alot of people are under the misconception that in order to practice a pagan religion, they must find a teacher. This is not true. You are just as capable of educating yourself as anyone. Pagan books and websites can supply you with all the information you need to begin practicing.

Wrong. Books and websites can give you *most* of the information and all of the surface stuff, but there are things taught in such groups that *cannot* be put into words - they have to be experienced to learn them and understand them, and it takes a teacher to guide you to them - unless you want to spend years trying to find them on your own. It's possible.


It’s true that anyone can write a book, but the publishers generally go to some trouble to ensure that the information is accurate in the interest of credibility, so books do tend to be more reliable sources of information than the Internet.

Perhaps *more* reliable, but that's not to say that books can't be peppered, cover to cover, with errors. Publishers really don't care about accuracy or credibility - only with making a buck. Llewellyn is a good case in point. They have some good books, but they have many more that are so filled with errors they're hardly worth the paper they're printed on.


Many people think that they must join a coven or group in order to study Wicca or paganism. There are even people that will tell you that in order to be "authentic" you must be taught by another witch/pagan and/or belong to a coven. This is not true. There is nothing wrong with being solitary.

This is quite true. However, studying a particular tradition, such as Wicca, does not give you the right to claim the name for yourself. *That* takes initiation by a group.


In fact there are some advantages. You do not have to be involved with the politics of organized religion. If your path changes with spiritual growth, you do not need to look for another group if you are solitary.

Again, quite true.


If you do decide you absolutely must have a teacher, please be cautious about who you choose. Choose someone reputable and get some references. There are alot of people put there who will fill your head with nonsense just for their own amusement, or perhaps “teaching” something they know nothing about makes them feel important. This is why I think it is best to at least read a few books before you attempt to find a teacher, so you at least have a basic idea of what you plan to study.

Very good advice. In fact, if a prospective teacher is not a part of an established group, I'd take that as a large warning sign. And always make your first contact in a *very* public place where there are other people around. If the prospective teacher won't agree, no matter what excuse is given, refuse the meeting and search elsewhere.


Bear in mind, even when you find a good teacher, you are going to have to make some effort yourself. Regardless of what any individual teaches you, you should still study on your own, practice on your own and above all, THINK on your own. If you are not capable of thinking for yourself, I don’t think that paganism is really the religion for you, but that’s just my opinion.

Any *good* teacher will *urge* their students to study on their own and to ask questions. P.E.I. Bonewitz wrote a "Cult Danger Evaluation Checklist" that I think everyone should use before making any final decisions. Here's the URL for one copy of it. http://draeconin.com/database/checklist.htm

[Kuzui]

Hi all...I'm new to this site, and also new to Wicca...any help, suggestions, or advice that you can give me would be greatly appreciated. Like Suzie, I'm also reading a book by Amber K, "True Magick". Any others you can suggest? Thanks!
~~Kuzui

[Witchy Cowgirl]

Kuzui, take a look in the Books forum.;)

[Kuzui]

Hey all...I'm a newbie, and I was looking for any kind of advice or suggestions that I can find...I'll welcome any wisdom I can get. Also, more specifically, I live in a very small, very conservative town--this makes it very hard (make that impossible) for me to find another person involved with Wicca. It also makes it difficult to find books and information aside from the Internet--and even if I did, I'm afraid my blossoming interest in the topic would not be widely accepted. Any suggestions for a small-town girl interested in Wicca?

[Blu Heather]

Hey Kuzui :wave: I'm new too :) And I live in Illinois so I'm in the midwest too.

Well...you can get a nice start by using the information online. If you go to that Links thread thats on this forum you'll find a lot of useful sites. Like what I do is I found info that I thought was useful and I copied it into word then later I printed the info out and where I got the info from and put them in a binder.

This board is really really really help for too. :D and well...your profile says your in college so your college library might have some books you can check out.

[Draeconin]

Alot of people are under the misconception that in order to practice a pagan religion, they must find a teacher. This is not true. You are just as capable of educating yourself as anyone.

This both true, and not true. Insofar as one can learn things from books, it's true. However, many pagan religions are called "Mystery Religions" for a reason: That being, that there are things that cannot be taught in books because they cannot be put in words. This is where a living, breathing teacher comes in handy. A teacher can guide the student in methods and ways to experience these lessons. Another reason I don't like a "books only" learning method is that a book cannot answer questions if confusion arises or clarification is needed, nor can a book correct a misapprehension or mistake.

[PureClassicTorture]

I'm also new, but I can reccomend The Philosophy of Wicca by Amber Laine Fisher. That was the first book I read, and I'm just finding some more. Tear Magaxine had a few rccomendations along with their artciel, "A conversation With a Witch" in their most recent release.

Blessed Be,
---Kai

[friend]

HI! Everybody i'm new at this. Can anyone tell me why 2 sometimes 3 ravens follow me around?

[Nina]

Originally posted by PureClassicTorture
I'm also new, but I can reccomend The Philosophy of Wicca by Amber Laine Fisher. That was the first book I read, and I'm just finding some more. Tear Magaxine had a few rccomendations along with their artciel, "A conversation With a Witch" in their most recent release.

Blessed Be,
---Kai

Kai,

Amber is one of our members here! She'll be delighted that you like her book so much!

http://www.mysticwicks.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=20576

[maria98]

I have a friend that needs help. she has carcinoma cancer. It was in her bones but now has gone to her brain. She wants me to help heal her but I am very new to the practice and fear that my magic is not strong enough by myself to help her. If you and anyone else you know can and are willing to help us, we would be very greatful for your help. I have her permission to help her.She is a very wonderful person. HEr name is Glenda Dedeaux and her birthdate is 5-26-45.I don't know any other witches besides myself and my sister and we both are new to the practice. Any help you or anyone else can give will be appreciated. thank you very much.


maria

[Eudaimonia]

You should probably post this on just talk.

Most at mysticwicks will send you their energy, and their love, prayers, or whatever they will.

There have been scientific studies shown that prayer can actually heal, weither or not the person knows they are being thought of. Whatever your relegion!

[Rani Drummond]

Friend - Ravens seem to have a lot of symbolic meanings, but I like the fact that you have two of them. They usually represent messengers.
Native American Myth: the raven can be the creator or the trickster.
Norse Myth:The two ravens who sat on Odin's shoulders were called Huginn and Muninn (mind and memory).
So take your pick, I guess!

[Rani Drummond]

Not quite sure what happened there, I meant to write "The", not post a strange bouncy purple thing!!

[JimWA]

This is my first post, so I don't know if I'm on the right forum. Just looking for some help on which threads I should use. Like which forum should I use to introduce myself. Feel free to PM me.

The other thing is that any introduction of myself would be a complicated thing. I've got an interest in religion, philosophy and history. I like to tell a good story. I'm old enough that I've got a pretty set path which suits me but doesn't fit easily into any set religion. I'm here to try and find people who's paths are similar to mine. I'm never alone and yet alsways alone.